The Peloponnese, Greece’s storied southern-most province and home to Sparta, Olympia, Nemea and countless other iconic sites, features in the first “bucket lists” of the year by a trio of international publications.

Moreover, Messinia prefecture, in the southeast Peloponnese gets special mention in the New York Times’ “52 Places to Go” in 2026.

According to the NYT “…Messinia’s beauty — its cliffs, castles and caves — will be in the global spotlight when Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” parts of which were filmed on its shores, premieres this summer. (Methoni Castle, Nestor’s Cave and Voidokilia’s crescent beach were all filming sites.)

An aerial drone photo of remnants of the stadium at the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games during antiquity, in the Peloponnese, Greece.

“But Messinia is more than just a film set. Its villages still press world-class olive oil, its tavernas serve recipes unchanged for centuries, and its coastline feels unhurried, especially compared with busier Greek islands like Mykonos and Paros, where development is altering cultural identities. Here, travelers can hike coastal trails with gorgeous sea views, wander through villages untouched by mass tourism, or swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea. This year offers a rare chance to see ancient myth, living culture and Hollywood spectacle converge in one place.”

Similarly, Forbes Travel Guide also lists the Peloponnese as among the top 20 places around the world to visit in 2026. Forbes also cites Nolan’s upcoming mega-production and the phenomenon of “set-jetting”, whereby visitors travel to where scenes from movies were shot.

Nolan’s “Odyssey”, starring Matt Damon in the lead role of Odysseus (Ulysses), is set to premier this summer.

A man fishes as a replica of an ancient warship is seen in the background, during the filming of The Odyssey, the latest project from director Christopher Nolan, in the town of Pylos, Greece, March 16, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

Finally, the top periodical for travel and leisure, Condé Nast Traveller, also lists the Peloponnese as a “must-see” destination in 2026, praising its “cinematic landscapes, rich history (again linked to Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey), authentic experiences, and sustainable luxury, especially in areas like Messinia and Costa Navarino.”